FC: Torquay United v Nuneaton Town - 3pm, 6 September 2014

I would echo this.

There are times as a Torquay fan, when as a supporter, you connect with the team - you like the players, you can see some promise. This side may blow hot and cold but the signings of Richards, Young, MacDonald, Ajala, O'Achie, Bowman in particular, plus the emergence of Cameron certainly gives us some hope and sometimes as a fan, that is all you need to feel a connection with the team. Hargreaves is a positive character, as young and raw as a manager as some of his signings are as players but you sense a positive vibe about the club.

Last year, with a manager who made watching paint dry seem interesting a team with journeymen mercenaries taking good money out of the club, it was hard to watch, it was hard to 'like' the team. There were too many players one wished would just bugger off. I suspect with the change in approach of manager, the departure of powerful players, there is a much lighter atmosphere and there is the promise.

It took O'Kane a couple of seasons to be the beacon of hope for us that he eventually was. You could see he had promise when he made fleeting substitute appearances under Buckle. Well, I feel we have four or five players who could move up from this squad and I do feel we have a team that re-establishes the link between fans and club - a team that you want to get behind. Against the odds as well.

Yeah, it's early days, but Hargreaves and his squad have made a strong start, and our worst fears of being relegation fodder seem unlikely at this juncture.

As challenging as Hargreaves' circumstances have been (tiny budget, players who got us relegated on 2 year contracts occupying squad places, massive round trips in one day), it's important to bear in mind that there will be other challenges in the coming months. Waterlogged training pitches, postponements and injuries will all doubtless feature at some point.

It seems though that there is the potential for a 'feelgood factor' to develop with this squad, and although it isn't the same watching us play non-league opposition, from a spectator's perspective, I'd take winning more games than we lose in the Conference over watching us scrape along near the bottom of League 2. Especially if good football is being played and we have some decent prospects on the books.

Our attendances have fallen, but they haven't fallen through the floor. Hopefully our good start will see more come through the turnstiles and the return of more positive times at Plainmoor. 

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Excellent entertainment.

I've already gone on about what key signings Young and Bowman were. I am really enjoying watching Young play. I'm sure he came to us because Hargreaves believed in him and told him he would build the team around him. Faith repaid in spades.

Aside from the key men, what about the punts on trialists? Well Richards and Ofori-Acheampong are looking inspired signings at the moment. Both have come to the fore through "bad luck".

I was not at all upset when Harding picked up an injury as I wanted to see Richards in alongside Young. Harding might have the edge on experience but Richards has the zip and enthusiasm and is a very good player.

I wasn't so pleased when Bowman was red-carded, but Ofori-Acheampong has proved me wrong in thinking he wasn't ready. He has come in and made it impossible for CH to drop him. Two big men up top gives the opposition centre backs a real headache and it was heartening to see that their presence didn't temp us into "hit the big man with a long ball" style. Neither Bowman nor O-A are donkey target men. They are both happy with ball to feet and running at defenders - but neither will be knocked off the ball easily.

Had Bowman not been red-carded, I reckon O-A might have spent the whole season as an "impact sub" and might have ended the season still a raw untapped talent. I hope for much more than that from him now.

Everyone played well on Saturday including the back four BUT I would still sound a word of caution on that score. Tonge and Cruise were very comfortable and looked very accomplished BUT they faced little or no attacking thread. They could push up over the halfway line with no fear.

CH has said that if we play 4-2-4, the full backs have to have the pace and energy to push up when we have the ball and get back quickly when we haven't. I still fear that better teams than Nuneaton will get at our defence and cause us real problems.

If we keep clean sheets at Chester and Grimsby - particularly Grimsby who carry a real attacking thread - I will be delighted to say I was wrong.

Twelve points from seven is a decent start BUT we have already played four of the bottom six. I don't think the theory that there is little difference between League 2 and the Conference holds water. I don't think there is much difference between top-half Conference and bottom-half League 2, but there is a yawning chasm between top-half League 2 and bottom-half Conference.

Welling, Southport and Nuneaton are all a long way off League standard. Most of our upcoming games are with teams a lot closer to League standard. That will provide a real test for a young and inexperienced team. I hope we rise to the challenge.